JPH10194179A - Foldable bicycle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a foldable bicycle which can be folded in further compact form, can stand by itself in the folded condition, can be carried by rolling easily, can be carried by loading onto an automobile, and can be packed to prevent the jumping of a handle in the carrying condition. SOLUTION: In this foldable bicycle, a handle 10 is provided at the upper part of a front fork which is provided ratable on the head pipe of a body frame, a front wheel 8 is pivoted on the lower part of the front fork, furthermore, the front end of a rear arm 31 extending in the longitudinal direction is provided on the body frame by a pivot shaft 33, a rear wheel is supported on the rear end 34 of the rear arm 31, and, while a crankshaft 71 rotated by a pedal 70 is provided, the rear wheel 37 is interlocked and connected to the crankshaft 71 through a driving mechanism, and the rear wheel 37 is made foldable in the front wheel direction by making the pivot shaft 33 as a support point. In this foldable bicycle, the axial core direction L1 of the pivot shaft 33 in the plane view of the bicycle 1 in the condition before it is folded, is made to be oblique relative to the axle direction L2, at least at the starting time of the folding work.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a foldable bicycle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a foldable bicycle, the applicant of the present invention has provided a handle on an upper part of a front fork which is rotatably provided on a head pipe of a body frame in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-216962, and a front wheel on a lower part. The front end of the rear arm extending in the front-rear direction is further pivotally supported on the body frame by a pivot shaft, the rear wheel is supported on the rear end of the rear arm, and a crankshaft that rotates by a pedal is provided.
A bicycle was proposed in which the rear wheels were linked to the crankshaft via a drive mechanism, and the rear wheels could be folded in the direction of the front wheels with the pivots as pivot points.

[0003]

According to the conventional foldable bicycle, when the rear wheel is folded in the front wheel direction with the pivot shaft as a fulcrum, the rear wheel and the front wheel are viewed from the front and rear directions. Overlap, the vehicle is not more compact in the front-rear direction, and cannot stand alone. In addition, foldable bicycles are sometimes transported loaded on a car, but during this transportation, they must be packed so that the handle does not jump, and the front and rear wheels roll in the folded state. It is difficult to transport.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and can be folded more compactly, can stand alone in a folded state, can be easily rolled and transported, and can be loaded on an automobile. It is an object of the present invention to provide a foldable bicycle that can be transported and packed so that the handle does not jump during transportation.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and to achieve the object, the present invention according to the first aspect of the present invention provides a steering wheel mounted on a front fork rotatably provided on a head pipe of a body frame. A front wheel of a rear arm extending in the front-rear direction is pivotally supported by a pivot shaft, and a rear wheel is supported by a rear end of the rear arm and rotated by a pedal. A state before the folding in a bicycle in which a crankshaft is provided and the rear wheel is operatively connected to the crankshaft via a drive mechanism, and the rear wheel is foldable in the front wheel direction with the pivot shaft as a fulcrum. In this case, the axial direction of the pivot shaft in a plan view of the bicycle is inclined at least at the start of the folding operation with respect to the axle direction. When folded, the rear wheel and the front wheel can be overlapped when viewed from the side, so that it is compact when stored.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the direction of the axis of the pivot shaft fixed to the body frame can be changed with respect to the body frame.
When running, the axis of the pivot shaft can be set in the vehicle width direction, and when it is folded, it can be inclined. Therefore, it can be inclined only when necessary, such as when it is stored.

The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the pivot shaft is arranged on the front wheel side from the crankshaft center. It can be folded at approximately the center of the length of the vehicle in the front-rear direction, making it compact. Further, since the length from the pivot shaft to the rear wheel can be sufficiently secured, the rear wheel can be sufficiently changed even at a small inclination angle of the pivot shaft, and can be stored at the side of the front wheel.

The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the rear wheel can be transported by rolling of the front wheel and the rear wheel in a state where the rear wheel is folded. It rolls in a folded state and can be easily transported.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the handle is foldable in the front-rear direction with respect to the head pipe, and at least three points of the handle, the rear wheel and the front wheel in a state where the rear wheel is folded. It is characterized in that grounding is performed and these grounding points form a surface without being aligned. The handle can be folded up and become self-supporting with a simple structure consisting of the handle, rear wheel and front wheel.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the handle is foldable in the front-rear direction with respect to the head pipe, and the handle is non-rotatably fixed to the body frame with the rear wheel folded. It is characterized by being. The handle can be prevented from jumping during transportation, and no special packing is required.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a foldable bicycle according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a side view of a foldable bicycle, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a crankshaft portion, and FIG.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG. 1, FIG. 6 is a side view of the folded and self-standing state, FIG. 7 is a rear view of the folded and self-standing state, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a rear view showing a state in which the handle is fixed, and FIG. 9 is a rear view showing a state in which the handle is fixed.

The foldable bicycle 1 has a body frame 5 composed of a main frame 2, a head pipe 3 and a seat frame 4. A head tube 3 is fixed to a front end of the main frame 2, and a front fork 6 is supported on the head tube 3 so as to be steerable. A front wheel 8 is rotatably supported by a front axle 7 below the front fork 6, and the front wheel 8 is detachable from the front axle 7 by a fastener 9. A bar-type handle 10 is attached to an upper part of the front fork 6.
The handle 10 is formed in a substantially U-shape, and grips 11 are provided at both left and right ends. The left and right sides of the handle 10 are connected by a cross pipe 12, the center of the handle 10 is rotatably supported on the upper part of the front fork 6, and can be folded in the front-rear direction by operating the lever 14 of the fastener 13. The cross pipe 12 has a rubber damper 1
5 are provided.

The seat frame 4 includes a fixed frame 16 and a movable frame 17. The lower end of the fixed frame 16 is fixed to the rear end of the main frame 2,
A movable frame 17 is slidably fitted to the fixed frame 16. At the upper end of the movable frame 17, a seat 18 is provided. At the top of the fixed frame 16,
A fastener 19 is provided, and the movable frame 17 is configured to slide to a desired height with respect to the fixed frame 16 by operating the lever 20 so as to be fastened. The movable frame 17 is slid with respect to the fixed frame 16 to a desired height, and the movable frame 17 is fastened to the fixed frame 16 by the fastener 19 so that the seat 18 supported by the movable frame 17 can be moved up and down in an arbitrary direction. Adjustable to position.

On the lower surface side of the rear end of the main frame 2,
A front end 32 of a rear arm 31 extending in the front-rear direction is fixed to the bracket 30 by a pivot shaft 33.
Is pivoted by The axis of the pivot shaft 33 extends right and left, and the rear arm 31 is pivoted about the axis of the pivot shaft 33.
The rear end 34 is vertically swingable. A rear axle 35 is supported by a pair of left and right bearings 36, 36 at a rear end portion 34, which is a swing end of the rear arm 31, so as to be rotatable around an axial center extending in the left and right directions. One end of the rear axle 35 projects to the side of the rear end 34 of the rear arm 31, and a rear wheel 37 is fixed to a free end of the rear axle 35, and the rear wheel 37 is rotatable with the rear axle 35 around its axis. It has been. The rear wheel 37 is detachable from the rear axle 35 by a fastener 38.

The rear arm 31 has a front end 32 formed by a front housing 40 and a rear end 34 formed by a rear housing 41. Also, the rear arm 31
Has an intermediate housing 42 that extends in the front-rear direction and is interposed between the front housing 40 and the rear housing 41 and that detachably fastens them to each other.
The front end 32 has a first boss 43 integrally projecting forward from the front surface of the front housing 40. The first boss 43 is pivotally connected to the bracket 30 fixed to the lower surface of the main frame 2. It is pivotally supported by a support shaft 33.

A vertically inclined shock absorber 50 slightly inclined forward is provided between a lower rear portion of the body frame 5 and an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the rear arm 31 between the pivot shaft 33 and the rear axle 35. . More specifically, the upper end 51 of the shock absorber 50
Is rotatably connected to a bracket 53 at an intermediate portion in the axial direction of the fixed frame 16 via a bearing 54 by an upper support 52. The lower end 55 of the shock absorber 50
Is pivotally supported by a second boss 57 integrally projecting upward from the upper surface of the front housing 40 in the front-rear halfway of the front end 32, which is a middle part in the longitudinal direction of the rear arm 31, by the lower pivot 56. Have been.

The upper support 52 includes a pivot 59 for supporting the upper end of the shock absorber 50 on the fixed frame 16 and a nut 60. The lower end 61 a of the handle 61 is supported by the pivot 59, and the upper end 61 b of the handle 61 is connected to the shaft 6 of the fastener 19.
2 supported. The lower pivot support 56 includes a pivot 63 and a nut 64 for pivotally supporting the lower end 55 of the shock absorber 50 to the second boss 57 of the front housing 40. The pivot 63 is formed at the lower end 55 of the shock absorber 50, is inserted into the fitting portion 55 a, and is tightened and fixed by operating a lever 65 provided on the pivot 63, and the pivot 63 is attached to the shock absorber 50. It is removable.

When the lever 65 is operated to release the tightening and fixing, the pivot 63 can be removed from the fitting portion 55a of the shock absorber 50, and the pivot 63 is connected to the second boss 5 of the front housing 40.
The rear arm 31 and the shock absorber 50 can be detached without completely detaching the rear arm 7 from the rear arm 7, and the handling is easy.

A hook 55b is formed at the fitting portion 55a of the shock absorber 50. The hook 55b prevents the pivot shaft 63 and the shock absorber 50 from coming off when the lever 65 is tightened. Shock or vibration transmitted from the rear axle 35 to the vehicle body frame 5 via the rear arm 31 is absorbed by the expansion and contraction operation of the shock absorber 50 accompanying the swing of the rear arm 31. In this embodiment, the shock absorber 50 and the rear arm 31
Are directly connected, but may be connected via, for example, a link mechanism.

In the middle part of the rear arm 31 in the longitudinal direction,
A crankshaft 71 supporting a pedal 70 is supported by the front housing 40. The crankshaft 71 is provided separately from the pivot shaft 33, and is rotatably supported on the front housing 40 by a pair of left and right bearings 72, 72 so as to be rotatable around an axis extending in the left and right direction. I have. Left and right ends of the crankshaft 71 protrude outward from the front housing 40, and a crank arm 73 is attached to each end. The two crank arms 73, 73 project in opposite directions toward the outside in the radial direction of the crankshaft 71, and the two crank arms 73, 7.
A pedal 70 is supported on each of the protruding ends 3.

The crankshaft 71 is located behind the pivot shaft 33. When each pedal 70 rotates around the crankshaft 71 and one of the pedals 70 reaches almost the front end of the rotation locus, the pedal 70 is located on the front side of the pivot shaft 33. I have.

A drive shaft 74 constituting a drive mechanism A for linking the rear wheel 37 to the crankshaft 71 is provided. Note that the drive mechanism A may be configured by a chain. The drive shaft 74 is provided so as to be housed inside the rear arm 31, and is supported on the rear arm 31 by front and rear bearings 75, 75 so as to be rotatable around its axis. The intermediate housing 42 of the rear arm 31 has the same axis as the axis of the drive shaft 74. The crankshaft 71 and the front end 74a of the drive shaft 74 are interlocked and connected by front bevel gears 76 and 77, and the rear axle 35
And a rear end portion 74b of the drive shaft 74 are linked by rear bevel gears 78 and 79. Also, rear axle 3
One-way clutch 1 between 5 and rear bevel gear 79
The one-way clutch 100 allows power transmission only from the drive shaft 74 to the rear wheel 37.

In the foldable bicycle 1, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the tightening of the lever 65 is loosened to separate the pivot 63 and the shock absorber 50, and the rear wheel 37 is pivoted to the pivot 33.
Can be folded in the front wheel direction with the fulcrum as a fulcrum. The front housing 40 of the rear arm 31 includes a rubber damper 8.
In the folded state, the rubber damper 80 abuts on the lower surface of the main frame 2 to reduce the folding sound or prevent the folding from causing damage.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the axial direction L1 of the pivot shaft 33 in a plan view of the bicycle 1 before folding is the axial direction (axle direction) parallel to the crankshaft axis.
L2 is inclined by a predetermined angle θ. Further, before the rear wheel 37 is folded in the front wheel direction with the pivot shaft 33 as a fulcrum, the rear wheel 37 and the front wheel 8 are located at the vehicle center L3 in the vehicle front-rear direction in plan view of the bicycle 1.

As described above, the bicycle 1 is in the axial center direction L1 of the pivot shaft 33 in a plan view of the bicycle 1 before being folded.
Is inclined with respect to the axial direction (axle direction) L2 parallel to the crankshaft center, so that when the rear wheel 37 located at the vehicle center L3 in the vehicle front-rear direction before folding is folded, the rear wheel 37 is moved from the position to the vehicle center L3. In a side view, the rear wheel 37 and the front wheel 8 can be overlapped, and the length D in the front-rear direction of the rear wheel 37 and the front wheel 8 is reduced by the overlap, so that the rear wheel 37 and the front wheel 8 are compact when stored. Further, in a state where the rear wheel 37 is folded, the pedal 70 can be rotated about the support shaft 85 as a fulcrum, and can be made compact along the axial direction of the crank arm 73 as shown in FIGS. .

Since the crankshaft 71 is located behind the center in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body in terms of running characteristics and stability, the pivot shaft 33 is arranged on the front wheel side of the crankshaft center of the crankshaft 71. It can be folded almost at the center of the length of the vehicle in the front-rear direction, making it compact. Further, by disposing the pivot shaft 33 on the front wheel side from the crankshaft center of the crankshaft 71, a sufficient length from the pivot shaft 33 to the rear wheel 37 can be ensured. Rear wheel 37
Can be sufficiently changed so as to be located at the side of the front wheel 8 and stored.

Further, the rear wheel 37 can be transported by rolling between the front wheel 8 and the rear wheel 37 with the rear wheel 37 folded. For example, the user can hold the handle 61 and push or pull to roll it while folded. Can be easily transported.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the handle 10 is folded toward the front wheel 8 on the front side, and the rear wheel 37 is folded.
The points are grounded, and these ground points do not form a straight line but form a surface. The handle 10 is provided with a boss 81 near the grips 11, 11, and the boss 81
Are provided so as to be able to roll and are smoothly supported. in this way,
The handle 10 is folded, and the handle 10, the rear wheel 37, and the front wheel 8 can be self-standing with a simple configuration. In the independent state, the rear arm 3
Since the bicycle 1 and the main frame 2 rotate in the direction in which they are close to each other due to the action of the moment due to the weight of the bicycle 1, the bicycle 1 can stand alone. Note that the handle 10 has one grip 11
Boss 81 may be provided in the vicinity of the rear wheel 37 and the front wheel 8 may be grounded at three points.

Further, in a self-standing state, the rear arm 31 and the main frame 2 can be tied so as not to be separated from each other by, for example, a band 83, so that the self-standing state can be further stabilized. Furthermore, in this case, the rear arm 31 and the main frame 2 do not separate from each other and can be easily transported even when the user lifts and transports by holding the handle 61.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the bicycle 1 is folded with the handle 10 turned toward the main frame 2 with the rear wheel 37 folded.
The handle 10 can be non-rotatably fixed to the body frame 5. When the handle 10 is folded, the rubber damper 15 of the cross pipe 12 is pressed against the main frame 2, whereby it is possible to reliably prevent the handle 10 from jumping during transportation and the like.
Moreover, no special packing is required. In this embodiment, the rubber damper 15 of the cross pipe 12 is pressed against the main frame 2 by folding the handle 10, but without using the rubber damper 15, for example, the cross pipe 12 is bent to form a concave portion. The handle 10 may be fixed to the body frame 5 so as not to rotate by engaging with the main frame 2.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
3 will be described. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a foldable bicycle drive mechanism, FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a crankshaft, FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII of FIG.
Is a sectional view at the time of folding.

In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In the second embodiment, a pivot 33 fixed to the main frame 2 of the body frame 5 via the bracket 30 is provided.
Can be changed in angle with respect to the main frame 2 of the body frame 5. Specifically, a long hole 30 a is formed in the bracket 30. In addition, the pivot shaft 33
The head 33a has a through hole 33b formed therein, and a cam shaft 90 is disposed in the through hole 33b. The cam shaft 90 is rotatable by operating a lever 91.

During traveling, as shown in FIG.
1 is located on the front side, and the camshaft 90 is
The housing 92 is pressed against the bracket 30 via the spacer 93 by this reaction force, and a nut 94 screwed to the tip of the pivot shaft 33 is pressed against the bracket 30 via the spacer 95. In this manner, the axis of the pivot shaft 33 is set in the vehicle width direction, and is parallel to the crank axis of the crank shaft 71.

At the time of folding, as shown in FIG. 13, when the lever 91 is operated to be located at the rear side, the cam shaft 90 is released from pulling the head 33a of the pivot shaft 33, and the housing 92 is moved to the spacer. The pressing of the bracket 30 through the bracket 93 is released, and the nut 94 screwed to the tip of the pivot shaft 33 is connected to the bracket 3 through the spacer 95.
0 is also released, and the axial center direction of the pivot shaft 33 can be inclined with respect to the vehicle width direction. When the rear wheel 37 is folded, it deviates from the position of the vehicle body center L3 to the side. In view, the rear wheel 37 and the front wheel 8 can be overlapped.

The head 33a of the pivot shaft 33 is formed to have a larger diameter than the shaft 33c, and the head 33a is slidably fitted to the housing 92, while the shaft 33c is connected to the spacers 93 and 95.
With a gap C. Also, the spacer 93
And the housing 92 are in spherical contact, and the spacer 95 and the nut 94 are also in spherical contact, so that the tightening operation and the releasing operation by operating the lever 91 can be performed easily and reliably. As described above, the axis of the pivot shaft 33 can be set in the vehicle width direction during traveling, and can be inclined when folded, so that it can be inclined only when necessary, such as when stored.

[0036]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the axial direction of the pivot shaft in a plan view of the bicycle before folding is at least at the beginning of the folding operation, at an angle to the axle direction. Therefore, when folded, the rear wheel and the front wheel can be overlapped with each other in a side view, and compact when stored.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the direction of the axis of the pivot shaft fixed to the body frame can be changed with respect to the body frame. Since it can be in the width direction and can be slanted when folded, it can be slanted only when necessary, such as during storage.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the pivot shaft is arranged on the front wheel side from the crankshaft center, it can be folded substantially at the center of the length in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and it becomes compact. Also, since the length from the pivot axis to the rear wheel can be sufficiently secured,
Even with a small inclination angle of the pivot shaft, the rear wheel can be sufficiently changed to be stored at the side of the front wheel.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the front wheel and the rear wheel can be transported by rolling in a state where the rear wheel is folded, and can be transported easily by rolling in the folded state.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in a state where the rear wheel is folded, at least three points of the handle, the rear wheel and the front wheel are grounded, and the ground points are not formed in a straight line but form a surface. It can be self-supported with a simple structure including folding, a handle, a rear wheel, and a front wheel.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the handle can be fixed to the body frame in a non-rotatable state with the rear wheel folded, so that the handle can be prevented from jumping during transportation or the like, and special packing is not required. is there.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a foldable bicycle according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a crankshaft portion.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a self-standing state when folded.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of a self-standing state in a folded state.

FIG. 8 is a side view in a state where the handle is fixed by folding.

FIG. 9 is a rear view in a state where the handle is fixed by folding.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a drive mechanism of the foldable bicycle according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a crankshaft portion.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line XII-XII of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view at the time of folding.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bicycle 3 Head pipe 5 Body frame 6 Front fork 8 Front wheel 10 Handle 31 Rear arm 33 Pivot shaft 34 Rear end portion of rear arm 37 Rear wheel 70 Pedal 71 Crank shaft A Drive mechanism L1 Axial direction of pivot shaft 33 L2 Crankshaft direction of crankshaft 71

Claims (6)

[Claims] A handle is provided at an upper portion of a front fork rotatably provided on a head pipe of a body frame, a front wheel is pivotally supported at a lower portion, and a front end of a rear arm extending in the front-rear direction on the body frame is pivotally supported. A rear shaft is supported by a shaft, a rear wheel is supported on a rear end of the rear arm, and a crankshaft that rotates by a pedal is provided. The rear wheel is operatively connected to the crankshaft via a drive mechanism. In a bicycle that can be folded in the front wheel direction with the pivot shaft as a fulcrum, the axial direction of the pivot shaft in a plan view of the bicycle before the folding is at least at the start of folding work, in the axle direction. A foldable bicycle characterized by being inclined with respect to the bicycle. 2. The foldable bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the direction of the axis of the pivot shaft fixed to the body frame can be changed with respect to the body frame. 3. The foldable bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the pivot shaft is disposed on the front wheel side of the crankshaft center. 4. The foldable structure according to claim 1, wherein the rear wheel is transportable by rolling of the front wheel and the rear wheel in a state where the rear wheel is folded. bicycle. 5. The handle is foldable in the front-rear direction with respect to the head pipe. In a state where the rear wheel is folded, at least three points of the handle, the rear wheel and the front wheel are grounded, and the contact between them is established. The points are not formed in a straight line but form a plane.
The foldable bicycle according to any one of the above. 6. The handle is foldable in the front-rear direction with respect to the head pipe, and the handle is non-rotatably fixed to the vehicle body frame in a state where the rear wheel is folded. The foldable bicycle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein